Following pipeline construction, the area above and adjacent to the pipeline will need to be seeded to reduce soil erosion. There are a variety of seeding mixtures available to re-establish vegetative growth, giving landowners numerous options. This fact sheet details and examines these options.

Seeding Considerations

Before deciding which mixture to seed, there are several items landowners should consider. Following is a list of these considerations:

What grasses and forages were present prior to construction?
It is recommended that the new seeding compliment the forage that was present prior to construction.

What will you do with the land following construction?
Depending upon whether you are going to make hay or graze the land may dictate the plant species you select.

Will you graze livestock on the land?
If so, the livestock species you plan to graze may impact your selection of seeding mixtures.

Do you prefer a pure seeding mixture?
The advantages of pure grass or legume mixtures include ease of management, a greater choice of herbicide options, and greater forage quality potential.

Do you prefer a grass-legume mixture?
Mixtures of grasses and legumes are very common in Ohio and are generally preferred over pure stands. Advantages include higher yield potential and more uniform production throughout the season. The addition of legumes also reduces the nitrogen fertilizer requirement, lengthens the life of the stand, and can reduce the incidence of nitrate poisoning and grass tetany in livestock grazing the forage.

Seeding Rates

Table 2 below is from the Ohio State University Extension Ohio Agronomy Guide and provides sample mixtures for common grasses and forages grown in Ohio. The recommendations in this table are based on the percentage of pure live seed (PLS). PLS is a means of expressing seed quality. PLS is the percentage of seed, i.e., good viable seed that has the potential to germinate within a measured pound weight of any seed lot. This percentage is typically printed on a seed tag. PLS provides a basis for comparing the quality of seed lots of the same species that differ in purity and germination. The use of PLS guarantees that the same amount of viable seed per acre is planted even though different seed lots with varying quality may be used. Knowing the PLS percentage is important when comparing price. See the example illustration in table 1.

Table 1: Example illustration comparing PLS and price

Company A

Company B

Species

Variety

Variety

Price (Bulk/lb.)

$8.00

$8.25

% Purity

85.2%

86.3%

% Total Germination

79%

84%

% PLS

67.3%

72.49%

Price/PLS lb.

$11.89

$11.38

From these calculations we can easily see that the posted price (per bulk pound) is not always the best buy. Company A’s seed that sells for $8.00 a bulk pound costs $11.89 for each PLS pound as compared to Company B which sells its seed for $8.25 per bulk pound that becomes the cheapest at $11.38 for each PLS pound. Company B’s seed results in a $25.50 savings for each 50 pounds purchased.

This example shows that the initially cheapest seed is not always the best buy or the most economical. By comparing the purity and germination, and calculating PLS for any seed lots, you can see which lots are the most economical and have the best chance to establish a successful planting.

Table 2: Seeding Recommendations from the Ohio Agronomy Guide

Species

Seeds/lb. x 1,000

Seeds/ft2

Lbs. Seed/A

Proportional Seeding Rates for Mixtures Pounds/Acre

Perennial Legumes

3/4

1/2

1/3

1/4

1/8

Alfalfa

227

80

15

12

8

5

4

2

Alsike Clover

700

150

9

7

5

3

2

1

Birdsfoot Trefoil

375

80

9

7

5

3

2

1

Red Clover

275

70

11

8

6

4

3

1.5

White Clover

860

100

5

4

3

2

1

0.5

Crownvetch

140

30

9

7

5

3

2

1

Perennial Grasses & Forbs

Orchardgrass

590

130

10

7

5

3

2

1

Perennial Ryegrass

237

130

24

18

12

8

6

3

Reed Canarygrass

550

130

10

8

5

3

2.5

1

Smooth Bromegrass

137

50

16

12

8

5

4

2

Tall Fescue

227

80

15

12

8

5

4

2

Timothy

1230

220

8

6

4

3

2

1

Getting What You Want

Before the seeding is made, a soil sample should be taken to determine the present and future lime, and fertilizer requirements for the site. A soil sample will provide important information about the pH level of the soil and the amount of nutrients that should be applied prior to seeding. The sampling and associated costs should be negotiated into the easement agreement and the cost of sampling, seed and planting should be the responsibility of the company. If you have the interest and the ability, and can negotiate an agreement, you may consider making the lime, fertilizer and seeding yourself. Then you are assured of the type and amount of each that was applied.

If there is a particular species you do not want seeded on your land, make sure this is clearly stated in writing in the agreement. Once the seed is applied it is next to impossible to remove it from the soil.

If the pipeline will be installed across your lawn, the grasses you select to re-seed the area will be different than those provided in the table from the Ohio Agronomy Guide. Contact your local OSU Extension office for recommendations about these areas.

Summary

Establishing vegetation on a pipeline right-of-way and construction area is important to conserve soil. Consider your intended use of the land and select the most improved varieties that maximize production. Contact your local Ohio State University Extension office for information about soil testing, nutrient management, variety selection and seeding.

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